英文故事Patty Potential
Oncetherewasayounggirl,namedPatty.Shehadlotsoffunandmademanyfriends.Duringthesummerbeforeherthirdgrade,Pattydecidedtotryanewsport.SwimteamwasnearlyoverandPattywasthefastestswimmerinheragegroup.Shehadalwaysbeenthebest.Theneighborhoodwasofferingatennisclinic.PattyandherfriendDarlagotpermissionfromtheirparentstojoin.
OnSaturdaymorning,Darla’
smomtookthegirlstoaconsignmentstorearoundthecornerandboughtthemeachagood,usedtennisracket.“Ifyougirlssticktotennis,thenwe’
lltalkaboutanewracket.Thesewilldofornow.”Thegirlswerethrilledwiththeir
newpurchases.PattyhadapurpleracketwithbrightyellowstringsandDarlagotablueonewithfluorescentgreenstrings.
OnMondaymorning,at7:00a.m.,Patty’smomwokeherup.“It’
stimefortennis!”Pattycoveredherfacewithherpillow.“Mom,it’
swaytooearly!”shestumbledoutofbedanddowntothebreakfasttable.“You’
llneedfruitandcereal.I’
llfixyousomeGatoradetotaketothecourt.”HermotherseemedexcitedthatPattywaspickinguptennis.PattyfinishedbreakfastandranovertoDarla’
shouse.Theywalkedovertothecourts.
Mrs.Cane,thetenniscoach,linedeveryoneupandstartedwiththebasics.Therewerefourgirlsinthelesson.Mrs.Canehadtwobucketsofballsandtirelesslytossedthemtotheforehandsandthebackhands.Bytheendoftheweek,Pattywasreallymakingprogress.Mrs.CanecommentedthatPattyhadlotsofpotential.Darla,ontheotherhand,wasstruggling.Theothergirlswerehavingatoughtimeofit,also.Pattywastheonlyonewhoseemedtogetit.
Thatweekend,Darlabeggedherparentstohitwithher.Pattywasn’
treallyinterested.Shewassucha‘natural’attennisthatshefeltshereallydidn’
tneedtopractice.So,DarlawasoutintheAugustheat,practicingherservesonSaturday.Sunday,afterchurch,Darlawashittingtennisballswithherbigbrother.Hewasnotimpressedwithhertalent,buthedrilledheranyway.Shehitagainstherhouseandvolleyedwithhermominthedriveway.Bytheendofthesummer,Darlawasbeginningtogetthehangofit.
Mrs.Caneheldanothertennisclinictheweekbeforeschoolstarted.DarlaandPattysignedupimmediately.Mrs.CanewaspleasedwithDarla’
sprogress.“Well,Icantellwho’
sbeenpracticing!”PattywishedthatshehadbeenasdiligentasDarla,butshewas
stillproudthatshehadsuch“natural”ability.Mrs.CanecommentedthatPattyhadsomuchpotentialandwouldbethenextBillyJeanKingifshewouldjustpractic
e.Bothgirlshadawonderfultime.
Darladecidedtojointheneighborhoodjuniortennisteam.MatcheswouldbeeveryThursday.Pattywantedtojoin,butshedidn’
twanttomisstheYouthTroopTVshow.Shedaydreamedaboutbeingthenexttennisstar.Shetoldherselfthatshewouldcontinuetohitthetennisballwhenshegotsomefreetime.IfDarlahadfun,shewouldjointheteaminthespring.
Severalweekspassed,andPattywenttooneofthematches.Shewasreallyimpressedwiththewaythegirlswerehitting.Shewasalittlebitlost,too.“Thirty-love,
”criedDarla,beforesheserved.“Whatisshetalkingabout?”thoughtPatty.Shewantedtoaskbutshedidn’
twanttoappeardumb.Finally,thematchwasover.Darlaandherpartnerlost,buttheyhadawonderfultime.Allthekidswerereallynice.Pattywishedshehadjoined.Itwastoolate,now.
Laterintheyear,thespringjuniortennisteamstartedup.Darlawascaptain.Herparentsboughtherabrandnewracketbecauseshedeservedit.ShetriedtotalkPattyintojoining,butPattyhadnotpracticedandwaswaybehindtherestofthegirls.Shewasn’tcomfortablewhenshewasn’
tthe“best.”Shewassortofembarrassedthatshehadn’
timproved.Allofthat“naturaltalent”reallygothernowhere.PattyPotential
Thatspring,Darla’
steamwenttotheplayoffs.Theygotin2ndplaceandwereinvitedtotheCityFinals.ThatwastheworstweekofPatty’
slife.Shewasveryexcitedforthegirlsandcheeredthemon.Butinsideshewasmiserable.“Whydidn’
tIgoaheadandjoinwhentheyaskedme?”shethought.Nowitreallywastoolate.Noonewasbegginghertojointheteamanymorebecausetheydidn’
tneedher.Thegirlshaddevelopedtheirtennisskillswaybeyondherabilities.
Severalofthegirlscouldn’
tgotothecityfinalsbecausetheyweregoingonvacation.DarlaaskedPattytopleaseplaydoubleswithheratcityfinals.NowPattygotherchance.Toobadshehadnotpracticed.DarlahelpedPattyalongduringthematch.Pattysufferedfromheatexhaustionandfrustration.Theylosteighttoone.Pattyreallyfeltlikesheletherteamdown.Buttheteamwonthecityfinalsbyonepoint.Thatpointreallymadethedifference.DarlaandPatty’
sdisappointmentwasquicklyturnedintojubilation!Theyhadacelebrationparty.Pattydecidedtenniswouldbeagoodsportafterall.
Throughtheyears,theteamgrewandchanged.Thegirlsstuckitoutandcontinuedtoimprove.Theybecameverygoodfriends.Pattyjoinedateamoutofthenei
ghborhoodandpracticedregularly.Darlaworkedwithherandthetwogirlshadlotsoffuntogether,again.OneofthegirlsonDarla’
steammovedandaspotopenedupforPatty.Althoughshewastheweakestplayer,shestillenjoyedherselfandworkedhardatpractice.Becauseshefinallydecidedtopracticeandnotacceptthatshewasa‘natural,’
shewasabletojoininthefun.Thatwasoneofthebestlessonsofherlife.
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